Fabric reel

ABSTRACT

A reel for fabrics is formed from a single blank of relatively stiff sheet-like material, such as corrugated paper board, which may be readily set up by hand or machine into reel assembled form without the use of adhesive or mechanical fasteners.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,908,932

P0 ham Se t. 30 1975 p p a [54] FABRIC REEL 3,343,665 9/1967 Marino242/222 80, 12 9 M L d 24 22 [76] Inventor: James A. Popham, RRlDelaware, 855 /l 73 C 60 et a] 2/2 London, Ontario, Canada PrimaryE.\'aminerLeonard D. Christian [22] Filed Sept 1974 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Bean & Bean [21] Appl. No.: 504,368

52 11.5. C1. 242/222 [571 ABSTRACT [51] Int. C1. B6511 75/06 A reel forfabrics is formed fr om a single blank of rela- [58] new of Search242/50 3 tively stiff sheet-like material, such as corrugated paperboard, which may bereadily set up by hand or 6 R f d machine into reelassembled form without the use of [5 1 UNITE]; gfiz r gs :ZTENTSadhesive or mechanical fasteners.

3,062,368 11/1962 Dunn 242/222 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patent Sept.30,1975 Sheet1of2 3,908,932

US. Pamm Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 Of2 3,98 932 FABRIC REEL BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 'having been disclosed'by US. Pat. Nos 2,283,950;

3,450,347 and 3,744,706 relating to diverse types of paper board trayconstructions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedreel for fabrics, which may be readily set up in reel assembled formwithout the use of adhesive or mechanical fasteners. The reel featuresan improved'reinforcing side wall construction and end wall-side wallinterlocking arrangement.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present invention willnow be more clearly described in the following detailed descriptiontaken with the accompanying drawings wherein: i

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reel constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a blank of sheet-like material fromwhich the reel of FIG. 1 is constructed;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective views illustratingsuccessive steps in the assembly of the reel of FIG. 1 from the blank ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 66 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A reel formed in accordance with the presentinvention, which is generally designated as 10 inFIG. 1, may beassembled from a single blank of relatively stiff sheet-like material,which is generally designated as 12 in FIG. 2. While blank 12 ispreferably formed from corrugated cardboard in which the corrugationsare arranged to run lengthwise thereof and thus lengthwise of reel 10,it will be understood that the present invention is not limited tospecific type of sheet material from which blank 12 is formed.

Generally referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that blank 12 is suitablycut and scored, or otherwise provided with fold lines, to define aplurality of panel elements including a rectangular central or firstpanel 14 having a pair of parallel side edges or first score lines 14aand a pair of parallel end edges or second score lines 14b. Blank 12further includes a pair of essentially equal width, side wall secondpanels 16, which are foldably attached to central panel 14 one alongeach of side edges 14a; a pair of essentially equal width, top side orthird panels 18, which are foldably attached one to each of side wallpanels 16 along fold or third score lines 16a; and a pair of essentiallyequal width, side reinforcing or fourth panels 20, which are foldablyattached one to each of top side panels 18 along fold or fourth scorelines 18a arranged parallel to their free edges 20'. Fold lines 16a and18a are arranged parallel to side edges 14a.

In accordance with the preferred form of the present invention, blank 12is cut to provide outwardly diverging end guide or clearance edges 18band 20b adjacent opposite ends of each of panels 18 and 20,respectively, and to define outwardly or end opening locking'slots 22arranged in alignment with and-adjacent'oppo'site ends of each of foldlines 18a. The slope of edges 18b relative to a line drawn transverselyto panel 14 e.g., aligned with edges 14b, is designated as a given angle(1 shown only in FIG. 2. Y

Blank 12 further comprises a pair of essentially equal width, end wallor fifth panels 24, which are foldably attached to central panel 14 onealong each of end edges 14b; and a pair of composite, essentially equalwidth locking or sixth panels 26, which are foldably attached'one toeach of end wall panels 24 along fold or fifth score lines 24a. Panels26 each include fold assist or seventh and locking or eight portions28and 30, respectively, wherein portions 28 are foldably attached to endwall panels 24 one along each of fold lines 24a and portions 30 arefoldably attached to their associated fold assist portions 28 along'foldorsixth score lines 28a arranged parallel to their free edgesPreferably, blank 1'2is cuttoprovide the opposite ends of top end panels26 with stepped, outwardly convergent guide or clearance edges 26a and26b. Fold lines 24a and 28a are arranged parallel to end edges 14b. Theslope of edges 26b relative to free edges 30 is designated by theangle'B'sho'wn only in FIG. 2. Preferably, the angle B is essentiallyequal to or greater than angle a and the length of free edge 30corresponds essentially to the distance'between panels sition. I Y

Againreferring to FIG. 2, it will be' understood that as thus fardescribed, blank 12 is economical to fabri- 18 when in reel assembledp0- "cate from the standpoint thatall fold or score lines are ber ofblanks which can be cut from a given size sheet material with a minimumof scrap loss.

The widths of central panel 14 and side wall panels 16 will bedetermined by the desired cross sectional dimensions of 'the reel to beformed, whereas the lengthwise dimension of these panels and thus panels18 and 20 will vary depending upon the width of fabric to be wound onthe reel. In the illustrated reel construction the width of each panell8'is preferably substantially less than the width of panel 14, e.g., onthe order of about one-fourth, but may be less in order to conservesheet material. The widths of panels 14, 16 and 18; the

. length or depth of slots 22; and the value of angle a inheren'tlydetermine the size and shape of the remaining panels. In this respect,the width or reel assembled height of panels 24' will be less than thewidth or reel "assembled height of panels 16 by an amount essentiallycorresponding to the thickness of panel 18, i.e., the

thickness of material from which blank 12 is formed, in order to permitpanels 26 to be arranged in underlying engagement withpanels 18 and bedisposed essentially parallel to panel 14 when the reel is assembled.Further, the width of each panel 28 is less than the width of itsassociated panel 24 and correlated with the width of its associatedpanels 24 and 30 to permit infolding of panels 26 in the manner to bediscussed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

It will be understood that, as an intial step in assembling the blankform of FIG. 2 into the fully assembled reel of FIG. 1, panels 6, 18 and20 are folded upwardly about their associated fold lines 14a, 16a and18a, respectively, until such panels assume the positions best shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, wherein they define reinforced side wall assemblies ofessentially triangular crosssectional configuration. These side wallassemblies serve to prevent squashing or bending of assembled reel.Thus, panels 16 are essentially parallel and vertically upstand or areessentially perpendicular to central panel 14; panels 18 extend towardone another and are arranged essentially parallel to panel 14 andperpendicular to panels 16; and panels 20 extending downwardly from thespaced or terminating edges 18a of panels 18 to lie in surface abuttingengagement with the upper or inner surfaced panels 14 adjacent sideedges 14a.

The next assembly step involves folding panels 28 and 30 upwardly abouttheir associated fold lines 24a and 280, respectively, until such panelsassume the position shown in FIG. 4, wherein the inner (initially upper)surface of panels 30 is positioned in guiding engagement with panels 20along guide edges 20b and free edge 30 is arranged adjacent to and inalignment with the entrance of slots 22. The cutting away of the ends ofpanels 18 and 20 to define edges 18b and 20b permits panels 30 to bepositioned in the manner shown in FIG. 4 without requiring deformationof panels 18, 20 or 30 or an increase in the width of panels 28, such aswould interfere with the final assembly step to be described.

The relative positioning of panels 24, 28 and 30 shown in FIG. 4 isslightly exaggerated, since as a practical matter panel 28 willessentially upstand from panel 24; and the angle between inner(initially upper) surfaces of panels 28 and 30 will be greater than 90,such that panel 30 is slightly tilted upwardly in a direction towardspanel 14.

The final assembly step involves inserting panels 26 into theirassociated slots 22, as panels 24 are folded upwardly about end edges14b, as best shown in FIG. 5, and continuing this operation until panels24 essentially vertically upstand from panel 14 and panels 26 extendessentially to the inner ends of slots 22 as best shown in FIG. 1. Theprovision of guide edges 26a greatly facilitates smooth insertion ofpanel 26 between side wall 16. When reel is in its fully assembledcondition, panels 28 and 30 are arranged essentially perpendicular topanels 24 and extend essentially parallel to panel 14; such panels beingfrictionally engaged or gripped by facing surfaces of panels 18 andimmediately adjacent slots 22.

By again viewing FIG. 5, it will be understood that the width of panels28 relative to panels 24; the hinging movements of panels about foldlines 14b, 24a and 28a; and the clearance afforded panels 28 by cuttingaway the ends of panels 20 to define edges 20b, permits panels to remainmore or less parallel to panel 14 as they are inserted into slots 22 andpanels 28 to move into a coplanar relationship with panels 30 toward theend of inserting movement of the latter, without tearing along foldlines 18a adjacent the inner ends of the slots or producing noticeabledeformation of any of the panels. This in turn allows insertion ofpanels. 26 in a smooth continuous manner whether effected by hand ormachine.

While it is contemplated that panels 20 may be of a given widthcorresponding essentially to the length of a hypotenuse of a righttriangle formed by associated panels 16 and 18, it is preferred thatpanels 20 have a width which is slightly less than such given width, asbest shown in FIG. 6. Thus, when the form is set up to arrange panels 16in a right angular relationship relative to panels 14 and 18, the freeedges 20 of panels 20 engage panel 14 along lines spaced slightly fromthe junctures of panels 14 and 16. This arrangement frees panels 16 forslight tilting movement in a direction inwardly and downwardly towardspanel 14 when a fabric is wrapped around reel 10, whereby to morepositively clamp" panels 30 in reel assembled condition within slots 22and to more positively retain panels 18 in overlying engagement withpanels 28 and 30, which prevents disassembling hinging movements of thelatter about fold lines 28a. As a further result, reel 10 becomes morerigid than would be expected of a single piece paperboard reel assembledwithout the use of mechanical fasteners or adhesives. The slight taperof edges 26a facilitates this inward movement of panels 16 in the areawhere clamping is to occur. However, it will be understood that theextent of movement of panels 16 from their normal or upstanding positionrelative to panel 14 may be so slight as to normally go unnoticed to thecasual observer. Moreover, it will be understood that this slight inwardtilting of panels 16 will not change the position or cause bowing of endpanels 24. Thus panels 24 will properly upstand from central panel 14and afford a planar surface for receiving fabric identifying indicia.

I claim:

1. A reel for web-like material comprising in combination:

a rectangular central panel having a pair of parallel side edges and apair of parallel end edges;

a pair of side wall panels foldably attached to said central panel onealong each of said side edges and extending from the same surface ofsaid central panel generally perpendicular thereto;

a pair of side top wall panels foldably attached one to each of saidside wall panels along lines spaced from and parallel to said pair ofside edges, said side top wall panels extending toward one another in agenerally parallel relationship to said central panel and havingterminating edges arranged in a spaced parallel relationship and onopposite sides of a central portion of said central panel disposedintermediate said side edges;

a pair of reinforcing panels foldably attached one to each of said sidetop wall panels along said termihating edges and extending downwardlyinto sur face abutting engagement with said same surface adjacent saidside edges whereby to cooperate with said side wall panels to form sidewall assemblies of essentially triangular cross-sectional configuration;

an end opening slot disposed in alignment with and adjacent to oppositeends of each of said terminating edges and serving to separate commonends of said side top wall panels and said reinforcing panels;

a pair of end wall panels foldably attached to said central panel onealong each of said end edges and extending from said same surface ofsaid central panel generally perpendicular thereto;

a pair of composite end top wall panels foldably attached one to each ofsaid end wall panels along lines spaced from and parallel to said endedges, said composite end top panels extending towards one another andgenerally perpendicular to said end wall panels, the vertically directedwidthwise dimension of said end wall panels being less than the verticalwidthwise dimension of said side wall panels by an amount correspondingessentially to the thickness of said side top wall panels, each of saidcomposite end top wall panels being inserted into an associated pair ofsaid slots opening theretowards and lying essentially parallel to saidcentral panel vertically intermediate said side top wall panels and saidreinforcing panels, each of said composite end top wall panels beingfrictionally retained within said associated pair of said slots andcharacterized as including fold assist and locking panels foldablyattached along a line spaced from and parallel to its line of attachmentto an associated one of said end wall panels, the widthwise dimensionsof associated ones of said end wall panels and said fold assistingpanels and said locking panels being correlated whereby said lockingpanel may be maintained in essentially parallel relationship to saidcentral panel during movement thereof inwardly of said slots into aseated position.

2. A reel according to claim 1, wherein each of said reinforcing panelshas a widthwise dimension slightly less than a hypotenuse of a righttriangle formed in part by said side wall and side top wall panels,whereby free edges of said reinforcing panels engage said same surfaceof said central panel along a line disposed in a parallel spacedrelationship to said side edges.

3. A reel according to claim 1, wherein end edges of said side top wallpanels and reinforcing panels diverge outwardly and in oppositedirection from adjacent outer ends of said slots, each of said compositeend top wall panels having spaced ends thereof formed with stepped,outwardly convergent guide edges including relative inner and outer endportions having ajuncture outwardly of said line of attachment of saidfold assist and locking panels and each of said locking panels has afree edge bounded by said outer end portions, essentially correspondingin length to the distance between said terminating edges, and the slopeof said outer end portions being less than the slope of said inner endportions relative to said free edge and being essentially equal to orgreater than the slope of said end edges of said side top wall panelsrelative to a line extending transversely of said central panel.

4. A planar blank of relatively stiff sheet-like material for use inconstruction of a reel, and comprising in combination:

a first generally rectangularly panel centrally disposed within theoutline of said blank and defined by a pair of essentially parallelfirst score lines and a pair of essentially parallel second score lines;

a pair of rectangularly shaped second panels extending coextensive withsaid first panel and joined thereto one along each of said pair of firstscore lines;

a pair of third panels extending essentially coextensive with said firstpanel and joined one to each of said second panels along third scorelines arranged parallel to and equally spaced from said first scorelines, the widthwise dimension of each of said third panels is measuredin a direction normal to said third score lines being substantially lessthan the widthwise dimension of said first panel as measured betweensaid first score lines;

a pair of fourth panels extending essentially coextensive with saidfirst panel and joined one to each of said third panels along fourthscore lines arranged parallel to and equally spaced from said firstscore lines, said fourth score lines terminating in a spacedrelationship from opposite ends of said third and fourth panels, commonends of said third and fourth panels being separated outwardly of theends of said fourth score lines by end opening slots, and end edges ofsaid third and fourth panels diverging outwardly and in oppositedirections from adjacent said slots; the widthwise dimension of each ofsaid fourth panels as measured in a direction normal to said fourthscore lines being less than the corresponding widthwise dimension ofeither of said second or third panels;

a pair of fifth panels extending coextensive with said first panel andjoined thereto one along each of said pair of second score lines, saidfifth panels having a widthwise dimension as measured normal to saidsecond score lines corresponding to essentially said widthwise dimensionof each of said second panels less an amount corresponding essentiallyto the thickness of said blank; and

a pair of composite sixth panels extending essentially coextensive withsaid first panel and joined one to each of said fifth panels along fifthscore lines arranged parallel to and equally spaced from said secondscore lines, each of said sixth panels haivng a widthwise dimension asmeasured normal to said fifth score lines corresponding essentially tothe length of said slots as measured from said ends of said third andfourth panels, and sixth panels being divided into relatively innerseventh and relatively outer eighth panels joined one along each of apair of sixth score lines arranged essentially parallel to said fifthscore lines, the widthwise dimensions of each of said seventh panelsbeing less than said widthwise dimension of said fifth panels, and saidsixth panels having stepped outwardly convergent end edges.

5. A blank according to claim 4, wherein said widthwise dimension ofeach of said fourth panels is slightly less than the hypotenuse of aright triangle defined by holding associated ones of second and thirdpanels into a right angular relationship about an associated one of saidthird score lines.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TREMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE F COREQ'MUN PATENTNO. 1 3 90 932 DATED September 30, 1975 INVENTOR(S) James A. Popham itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 8, "6" should read US- m Claim 4, Column 6, line 47 "and"should read --==-=-said-.

gigne and eale this twentieth 0? January 9 9 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON c. MARSHALL DANN Q Arresting Officer Commissioneroj'PaIents and Trademarks

1. A reel for web-like material comprising in combination: a rectangularcentral panel having a pair of parallel side edges and a pair ofparallel end edges; a pair of side wall panels foldably attached to saidcentral panel one along each of said side edges and extending from thesame surface of said central panel generally perpendicular thereto; apair of side top wall panels foldably attached one to each of said sidewall panels along lines spaced from and parallel to said pair of sideedges, said side top wall panels extending toward one another in agenerally parallel relationship to said central panel and havingterminating edges arranged in a spaced parallel relationship and onopposite sides of a central portion of said central panel disposedintermediate said side edges; a pair of reinforcing panels foldablyattached one to each of said side top wall panels along said terminatingedges and extending downwardly into surface abutting engagement withsaid same surface adjacent said side edges whereby to cooperate withsaid side wall panels to form side wall assemblies of essentiallytriangular cross-sectional configuration; an end opening slot disposedin alignment with and adjacent to opposite ends of each of saidterminating edges and serving to separate common ends of said side topwall panels and said reinforcing panels; a pair of end wall panelsfoldably attached to said central panel one along each of said end edgesand extending from said same surface of said central panel generallyperpendicular thereto; a pair of composite end top wall panels foldablyattached one to each of said end wall panels along lines spaced from andparallel to said end edges, said composite end top panels extendingtowards one another and generally perpendicular to said end wall panels,the vertically directed widthwise dimension of said end wall panelsbeing less than the vertical widthwise dimension of said side wallpanels by an amount corresponding essentially to the thickness of saidside top wall panels, each of said composite end top wall panels beinginserted into an associated pair of said slots opening theretowards andlying essentially parallel to said central panel vertically intermediatesaid side top wall panels and said reinforcing panels, each of saidcomposite end top wall panels being frictionally retained within saidassociated pair of said slots and characterized as including fold assistand locking panels foldably attached along a line spaced from andparallel to its line of attachment to an associated one of said end wallpanels, the widthwise dimensions of associated ones of said end wallpanels and said fold assisting panels and said locking panels beingcorrelated whereby said locking panel may be maintained in essentiallyparallel relationship to said central panel during movement thereofinwardly of said slots into a seated position.
 2. A reel according toclaim 1, wherein each of said reinforcing panels has a widthwisedimension slightly less than a hypotenuse of a right triangle formed inpart by said side wall and side top wall panels, whereby free edges ofsaid reinforcing panels engage said same surface of said central panelalong a line disposed in a parallel spaced relationship to said sideedges.
 3. A reel according to claim 1, wherein end edges of said sidetop wall panels and reinforcing panels diverge outwardly and in oppositedirection from adjacent outer ends of said slots, each of said compositeend top wall panels having spaced ends thereof formed with stepped,outwardly convergent guide edges including relative inner and outer endportions having a juncture outwardly of said line of attachment of saidfold assist and locking panels and each of said locking panels has afree edge bounded by said outer end portions, essentially correspondingin length to the distance between said terminating edges, and the slopeof said outer end portions being less than the slope of said inner endportions relative to said free edge and being essentially equal to orgreater than the slope of said end edges of said side top wall panelsrelative to a line extending transversely of said central panel.
 4. Aplanar blank of relatively stiff sheet-like material for use inconstruction of a reel, and comprising in combination: a first generallyrectangularly panel centrally disposed within the outline of said blankand defined by a pair of essentially parallel first score lines and apair of essentially parallel second score lines; a pair of rectangularlyshaped second panels extending coextensive with said first panel andjoined thereto one along each of said pair of first score lines; a pairof third panels extending essentially coextensive with said first paneland joined one to each of said second panels along third score linesarranged parallel to and equally spaced from said first score lines, thewidthwise dimension of each of said third panels is measured in adirection normal to said third score lines being substantially less thanthe widthwise dimension of said first panel as measured between saidfirst score lines; a pair of fourth panels extending essentiallycoextensive with said first panel and joined one to each of said thirdpanels along fourth score lines arranged parallel to and equally spacedfrom said first score lines, said fourth score lines terminating in aspaced relationship from opposite ends of said third and fourth panels,common ends of said third and fourth panels being separated outwardly ofthe ends of said fourth score lines by end opening slots, and end edgesof said third and fourth panels diverging outwardly and in oppositedirections from adjacent said slots; the widthwise dimension of each ofsaid fourth panels as measured in a direction normal to said fourthscore lines being less than the corresponding widthwise dimension ofeither of said second or third panels; a pair of fifth panels extendingcoextensive with said first panel and joined thereto one along each ofsaid pair of second score lines, said fifth panels having a widthwisedimension as measured normal to said second score lines corresponding toessentially said widthwise dimension of each of said second panels lessan amount corresponding essentially to the thickness of said blank; anda pair of composite sixth panels extending essentially coextensive withsaid first panel and joined one to each of said fifth panels along fifthscore lines arranged parallel to and equally spaced from said secondscore lines, each of said sixth panels haivng a widthwise dimension asmeasured normal to said fifth score lines corresponding essentially tothe length of said slots as measured from said ends of said third andfourth panels, and sixth panels being divided into relatively innerseventh and relatively outer eighth panels joined one along each of apair of sixth score lines arranged essentially parallel to said fifthscore lines, the widthwise dImensions of each of said seventh panelsbeing less than said widthwise dimension of said fifth panels, and saidsixth panels having stepped outwardly convergent end edges.
 5. A blankaccording to claim 4, wherein said widthwise dimension of each of saidfourth panels is slightly less than the hypotenuse of a right triangledefined by holding associated ones of second and third panels into aright angular relationship about an associated one of said third scorelines.